Bellator returns to Hawaii on Friday with two events in two nights, both of which take place at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and air on Showtime following prelims streaming on MMA Junkie.
Bellator 294 marks the first half of the doubleheader, and the event is headlined by a women’s flyweight championship bout. Reigning titleholder Liz Carmouche (18-7 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) will attempt to make her second defense in a rematch with DeAnna Bennett (13-7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA), who she beat by third-round submission at Bellator 246 in September 2020.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 294.
Liz Carmouche
Liz Carmouche
Carmouche became the first female fighter in UFC history to enter the octagon at UFC 157 in February 2013.
Carmouche challenged for the UFC women’s bantamweight and flyweight titles during her tenure with the promotion.
Carmouche is one of three fighters in Bellator history to hold the women’s flyweight title. Juliana Velasquez and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane also accomplished the feat.
Carmouche’s five-fight Bellator winning streak at women’s flyweight is tied with Sumiko Inaba for the longest active streak in the division.
Carmouche is 7-2 since she dropped to the women’s flyweight division in December 2017.
Carmouche has earned 12 of her 18 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of her five Bellator wins.
Carmouche’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven) and Denis Kielholtz (five).
Carmouche’s two knockout victories in Bellator flyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Inaba (three).
DeAnna Bannett
DeAnna Bennett
Bennett’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Carmouche (five), Inaba (five) and Diana Avsaragova (four).
Bennett has earned nine of her 13 career victories by decision.
Bennett has earned all three of her Bellator victories by decision.
Tim Johnson vs. Said Sowma
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson’s (15-9 MMA, 4-5 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since October 2020.
Sara McMann vs. Arlene Blencowe
Sara McMann
Sara McMann (13-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) makes her Bellator debut after a 13-fight UFC stint where she went 7-6 and challenged for the women’s bantamweight title.
McMann has landed 27 takedowns in UFC women’s bantamweight competition, the most in divisional history.
McMann’s victory at 1:14 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 105 marked the second fastest submission in UFC women’s bantamweight history behind Ronda Rousey’s 14-second finish of Cat Zingano at UFC 184.
Arlene Blencowe (15-9 MMA, 8-5 BMMA) competes in her 14th Bellator women’s featherweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history
Blencowe’s eight victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Julia Budd (nine).
Blencowe’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are tied with Cyborg for most in divisional history.
Blencowe’s four knockout victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are most in divisional history.
Blencowe’s 22-second knockout of Amanda Bell at Bellator 224 is the fastest finish in Bellator women’s featherweight history.
Tyrell Fortune vs. Sergey Bilostenniy
Tyrell Fortune
Tyrell Fortune’s (12-3 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) competes in his 17th Bellator heavyweight bout, tied with Cheick Kongo for the most appearances in divisional history.
Fortune’s 12 victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Kongo (13).
Fortune’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Fortune’s eight knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Cris Lencioni vs. Blake Smith
Cris Lencioni
Cris Lencioni’s (8-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at featherweight is the third-longest active streak in the division behind Lucan Brennan (seven) and Ciaran Clarke (five).
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 294.